lol, I should make it clear that I enjoy winter warmers for the most part. I like the combination of the spice and the malt if it's balanced perfectly, hence why I enjoy GLCA, Sly Fox Christmas Ale etc. I just find Harpoon to be a horrible example of the genre

Winter is my favorite beer season, and yes, warmers are on my list of favorite beers. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better season than winter for beer, especially if you're like me and enjoy very dark beers.

Even if I don't like a certain beer, I can generally appreciate it for what it's worth. Winter Warmer is the only craft beer I have ever had where I took one sip and dumped the rest down the drain. Overspiced grossness.

There's been two beers that I pushed away.

and some annual release from Weyerbacher that tasted like Jack Daniels. Overkill on the oak just ruined it for me.

count2infinity wrote:Winter is my favorite beer season, and yes, warmers are on my list of favorite beers. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better season than winter for beer, especially if you're like me and enjoy very dark beers.

I used to share this view. Well, winter and fall being very close. Now that I've broadened my horizons and realized that IPAs are not the only summer beer, i.e., have become more experienced with saisons and kolsches, I like summer quite a bit too. Even though IPAs have year round appeal in western PA, establishments tend to better at including fall/winter offerings. We need to push for expanded summer beer lists too!

As an IPA lover, I enjoy alot of the special releases that spring has to offer. To me, I love winter. There are a few go to Christmas beers that I love, but nothing beats a Gonzo Imperial Porter or Expedition Stout on a cold night.

count2infinity wrote:Winter is my favorite beer season, and yes, warmers are on my list of favorite beers. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better season than winter for beer, especially if you're like me and enjoy very dark beers.

I agree with this, mostly because of porters and stouts. I'm not a big fan of the spicier holiday brews, but there are some decent ones. Love ST Winter. I will say though, by the end of winter I'm ready for some lighter beers, and enjoy that as well. Just not quite as much.